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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Norwegian in fine Premier League form</li><li>Frustrated in European action</li><li>Can now only match CR7 record</li></ul>

One shot & 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter

Serie A

Verona

Inter

Premier League

Manchester City

Tottenham

The Norwegian striker has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/erling-haaland-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-goal-records-sergio-aguero-man-city/bltc43e49fcc6366048" target="_blank">been in prolific form again at the start of the 2024-25 campaign</a>, hitting nine goals through four appearances – including hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham. He was, however, to post a blank in a European clash with Serie A heavyweights at the Etihad Stadium.

WHAT HAPPENED?

City opened their quest for continental glory with a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/man-city-player-ratings-vs-inter-erling-haaland-josko-gvardiol/blt96e3c97c68cb51b4" target="_blank">goalless stalemate at home to Inter</a>, with Italian rivals making life difficult for Guardiola’s side. Haaland was restricted to just 14 touches, seven completed passes and one shot across his 90 minutes on the field.<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">90 minutes played 14 touches of the ball 7 passes completed 1 shot on target A quiet night for Erling Haaland 👀 <a href="https://t.co/JikRyNpH7Y">pic.twitter.com/JikRyNpH7Y</a>— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1836514342403211497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Guardiola told reporters of why his superstar No.9 found the going so tough: “There were six players around him. Six. Three behind, three in front. That's how they kept him out of the game. That makes it difficult for any player. [Francesco] Acerbi, [Alessandro] Basotni were five metres away from him, [Hakan] Calhanoglou, [Piotr] Zielinski in front of him. That's tough. We tried to use the spaces, that's why [Ilkay] Gundogan had a couple of chances but Inter were stronger than us physically. We needed to get more players up alongside Erling and that's what we did. I knew that Inter would defend like that.”

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

Haaland’s failure to find the target means that he can <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/more-champions-league-games-good-news-erling-haaland-man-city-cristiano-ronado-goal-record/blt41cb12f671c174be" target="_blank">no longer beat Ronaldo to the record of quickest player to reach 100 goals for a club</a>. CR7 achieved that feat in 105 games for Real Madrid, and City’s talismanic frontman will match that return if he scores in City’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

WHAT NEXT?

One shot & 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter | Goal.com Cameroon

Pep Guardiola has explained Erling Haaland’s quiet Champions League game vs Inter, with the Man City star failing to break a Cristiano Ronaldo record.

One shot &amp; 14 touches! Why Erling Haaland failed to break Cristiano Ronaldo goal record on quiet Champions League night for Man City striker against Inter